Why does the cost of hyperbaric services differ?

When evaluating the cost of hyperbaric services it is important to compare apples to apples. The cost will depend on the facility, staffing and chamber type used to provide the services.

At BaroMedical we have invested in the best and safest technology on the market to offer you effective and comfortable oxygen therapy. Oxygen flow chambers are more effective and safer compared to air flow chambers. This is validated with *in chamber oximetry measures during the therapy, which shows the exact amount of oxygen that your body has absorbed.

In general, therapy comparison should be made on:

equal length therapy time, ie. time breathing pure oxygen, not just compressed air which will dilute the oxygen concentration.
equal maximum pressure, ie. the maximum pressure of oxygen. Chambers capable of reaching pressures above 2 atmosphere requires special safety approval and are more expensive to maintain.
equal flow and mixture of gas, ie. 100% oxygen compressed chamber with a flow of 500 liters per minutes is very different from an air compressed chamber having a maximum mask flow of only 10 to 15 liters per minute.

See Therapy Comparison notes

2009 Fee schedule

Initial consultation		$ 55
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy	60 min :	$ 199
	90 min :	$ 280
Microcirculation assessment		$ 259
*In chamber tissue oximetry tests		$ 69
Wound care additional charges on disposables		$ 35
Electrical stimulation additional charges on disposables electrodes	30 min :	$ 37

Prepaid package discount

20 sessions		5%
40 sessions		10%

When looking for hyperbaric services ask questions about equipment certifications, treatment protocols and personnel training.

Health Canada requires a Medical Device License on all therapeutic equipment distributed in Canada. Very few chamber types are approved (see www.mdall.ca and search for Device Name: hyperbaric chamber)
Local safety authorities will require Operational Licenses to be issue for individual chambers and facility installations. It is mandatory to have Operational Licenses on display at the facility similar to any applicable business licenses.
Academically accepted treatment pressure ranges from 2 to 3 atmosphere of pure oxygen.
Small soft-shell inflatable bags marketed as “hyperbaric chambers” or "mild hyperbaric" are generally not capable of reaching therapeutic pressures (a write-up on why these bags don't fit in the category of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.)
Therapy time counts only during oxygen exposure. Breathing air under pressure will dilute the effect of oxygen and increase the amount of absorbed nitrogen.
Effective therapy requires daily sessions to initiate the body’s own healing response

Your medical service plan or extended health care insurance may cover the cost of hyperbaric therapy and other services listed in the schedule. Check with your plan provider to make arrangements for direct reimbursements.